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The name implies stately strength, and this blend delivers. A unique combination of Virginias, including a rich flake, Turkish and Orientals, lots of Latakia and spiced up, but cooled down by a judicious splash of St. James Perique, this tobacco has an almost incense-like aroma, with a surprisingly fresh, clean aftertaste.
Favorite Of 1 Users
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteelCowboy (685) |   |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Hearth and Home’s Armada is a full flavored blend that arrives ready for the pipe with no need of dry time. Armada is a Latakia heavy blend, but there is enough Oriental that pops to the forefront often enough to keep things interesting, especially in the first half of the bowl. Armada is also a bit spicy, but not overpowering. The Perique is well done and adds support without overtaking the blend in a way that can happen when Perique is used in English blends. There is a decent amount of complexity in this blend too. The only thing that keeps this from being a four star blend for me is in the latter stages of each bowl, the Latakia takes over a little too much for my personal taste. Armada is a big, bold blend that will satisfy those that enjoy English blends.
Age When Smoked: New
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| UncleGar (110) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Armada is a creation of Russ Ouellette, a concocter of weed brews for a quarter century. He reached into many jars for this one. Having struggled with blending and balancing mixtures on my own, a balanced mix of (at least) five components seems improbably difficult, yet here is such a blend. I?m not sure what how a learned tobacconist would categorize this, but I?d call it a cajun english blend.
Appearances: the many ingredients are reflected in the flakes: long very light strands of orientals, short milk chocolate brown virginias(?), and about 25% of latakia. Many small particles settle to the bottom of the container; I?d recommend giving it a good shake prior to loading up. Drying is unnecessary, though I struggle more than average to keep it lit and I?m not sure why.
Taste comparisons: Dunhill London Mixture with perique, GLP?s Cairo with latakia. Although the choir sings together well, I?d say the virginia component is the least noticeable major ingredient, based on the dryness in the mouth. Very little sweetness here, to my taste. The perique in this blend is its signature tweak and is light enough for even a fussbudget mouth like mine. There is enough latakia for all but the hardcore, though it doesn?t seem dominant.
Pipe recommendation: go big. I originally smoked this in small bowls so as to make my sample last for several smokes for a fair review. Bad strategy. A big pipe will last an hour and a half and will reveal many nuances not otherwise noticed in a small one. It likes my full bent Peterson and especially my big meer.
Recommendations: if you like to tweak your blends with additional perique, this is definitely your cup of meat. If you are a purist of english blends, this might upset you. The perique, though expertly sneaked in, tends to distract me personally, yet without it, Armada would get lost in the crowd. I like a bit more sweetness in my latakia blends, so I doubt I would restock this. Yet I have to admire this blend for its variety and balance. Your call.
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Geronimo Von Klaus (76) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I like this a lot. Its like a budget version of Skiff Mixture.
I don't get the Lat as much as others seem to. It seems to play a support role, with nice and pleasant presence of some gentle Lat, followed by some rich and earthy VA's and Orientals.
The result is an unusual mixture that works very well in the same vein as Skiff Mixture does. If you're the type of English smoker who judges on the Latakia percentage, you best move on and not bother, if you like them more rounded and to taste the other component, I encourage you to take a spin on this wheel and see if you like the cocktail.
Midday, nice afternoon, sitting on a park bench with a book, this is nice to have puffing away.
Similar Blends: S&G Skiff Mixture, McClelland Oriental 1.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Very Pleasant |
Right out of the bag this stuff is really wonderful. Flavor wise it is creamy to smoke with a clean, crisp, high-note (how did he do that?) and a true education in tobacco? at least it was for me. I ?got? some things about interaction better than I had before. Saying that, and I do smoke it now? I have a jar off to the side that I am aging and I have a feeling that once the varitiels have a chance to do their thing with the Va?s and Latakias for about six months to a year I just KNOW that it will have something smooth and unique to show me.
Smokeasaurus hit it dead on the head? I could not expressed it any better. Thanks.
Namaste?
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| clifswin (8) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
What do I think of Armada? Complex. There's a bit of almost everything you could want in here. Spicy taste from the Perique, sweet from the Virgianias, and smoky, rich tones from the Latakia & Orientals. The aftertaste is oddly clear, like after a mouthful of warm mineral water. This is a good one for times when you don't know what you're in the mood for, just so long as it isn't a one-note tobacco. It might be almost too busy for some moods. If this were music, it'd be a Bach fugue. Sometimes I'll go for a simpler smoke, something more like Paul Horn or Steve Reich. Sometimes a big band burley or an old-time rock-n-roll cavendish. This is one for when I want Bach.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Mr. Ouellette was present at the 2006 CORPS pipe show in Richmond, VA, hawking his blends. Because of his ready expertise and affable manner, I ordered a pouch of this, and subsequently, a pound. I'll order more.
First pouch experience: I was pleased with the aroma, finding it to be McClelland-like, oddly enough. I had a bit of trouble getting the initial light to take, but it settled out immediately and burned well to the bowl's bottom, with only minimal coaxing and "futzing." Some stems needed culling, but roughly equivalent to the same pick-through I have to give a baggie of 965, which I also buy in bulk. Note -- for some reason, they sent my pound of tobac in eight two ounce baggies. I'd have preferred this in a large bag, subject to my own division. I think it stays moister that way.
Truth told, I have no idea what the room note is. I've smoked Dunhill (965) and several McClelland virginias for so long, I can't smell much of anything anymore. But my wife didn't complain -- however, she has a wonderful tolerance for English blends, for which I am profoundly grateful, and due to which I'm in little danger of falling into overt atheism or developing anti-social tendencies such as voting for democrats.
I think this is perhaps a young blend, and intend to age some to see what mellowness might be coaxed out through a bit of maturation. There is a slight harshness to this blend that is, I believe, indicative of its need for some quiet time.
I've found that it doesn't do as well in smaller bowls, although my puffing habits may aggravate that, or even be responsible entirely. In large-ish bowls I consider it a delight, and intend to make this part of my regular rotation.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| frogman845 (1) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
I enjoy this tobacco tremendously, the rich smoky smell of the tobacco is amazingly satisfying to me. To me there's a symphony of flavors going on here. From the rich smokiness to the incense like aroma. This tobacco is peppery and earthy with tones of dark fruits yet notes of sweet brightness that pop through. All in all a well balanced smoke that never disappoints.
Pipe Used: Missouri. Meerschaum Mark Twain
Age When Smoked: 1 month
Purchased From: Pipes &cigars
Similar Blends: Frogmorton On The Bayou.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| WilDavis (5) | |
Medium | Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
Very smooth, tasty, very reminiscent of The Balkan Sobranie Smoking Mixture. Yum! Very pleasant! Mmmmmmm! Quite delicious! I must get some more of this excellent stuff!!!
Pipe Used: Peterson System 317 small (about 40 years old)
Age When Smoked: just delivered this morning
Purchased From: Pipes & Cigars .com
Similar Blends: I love the Latakia, and the hint of Perique. No bite, very smooth and silky!.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| DJFalsifier (2) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I'm new to pipes, and perhaps this wasn't a good first English blend. I'm not quite able to identify all the blends, but this definitely has a complex taste. Bold flavor on puffs, a little spicy- the most cigar-like of any pipe tobacco I've tried. It does have an interesting aftertaste- definitely like mineral water.
Very dry in bag, a few sticks and lots of small particles (Perique, I suppose). Maybe not an everyday smoke but worth a try.
Pipe Used: GBD bent billiard
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Pipesandcigars
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Fred T (67) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
Russ hit a home run with this English blend. It's kind of like Dunhill's My Mixture 965, which I consider the gold standard in English tobacco, to which he added just the right amount of peppery perique, subtle, not overwhelming. An excellent, full-bodied blend. It gets a 4 from me.
Pipe Used: Grant Batson
Age When Smoked: 3 months
Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars
Similar Blends: Dunhill 965.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Phonomet (44) | |
Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The tin description is apt--a strong flavor and clean aftertaste. It's strength is in the flavor but the smoke is not harsh or strong in nicotine. I am reminded of a good gin--the scent of pine needles and herbs--but not lingering like a whisky. It burns well and the flavor is consistent from top to bottom of the bowl. It sustains strong draws without getting hot. I will be purchasing more of this and I highly recommend it, especially to lovers of latakia and orientals.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Mr. Big (321) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A little strong , a little spicy/ bitey, a little harsh around the edges, good "N" hit, full latakia flavor with Orientals supporting . I've never been real good at identifying the quantity of Perique, except it's here. Not bad , nothing great, a little hard to smoke at a sip or it goes out ( similar to Frog Morton burn characteristics). I'll cellar my tin for a year and see what develops, it has got to take the heat away or I will keep it at 2 stars. Seems a little pricey at only 1.5 oz. in a GIGANTIC tin.
Updated 12/25/12- I've had this cellared for 15 months and some diffrence in the heat. Flavorfull, some hot spice, smokes at a sip ,but still has a bitter harshness too it, Powerful, not a sweet smoke. I tried this back to back against "Ambassador" ( no Perique)and Ambassador is smoother. This is 2 1/2 stars but I won't buy again.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is a clean smoking full Balkan. I detect a certain bit of additional flavor presumably from a topping of some sort, but it's minor and artfully applied. Dry, with lots of orientals at the start and a bit of latakia, but develops throughout into something very full flavored with depth. I do prefer other English blends, notably many of the GL Pease offerings, but this is a good one and well worth trying.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
a complex spicy one but with strengh .An all day tobacco
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| dualkarnain (75) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
As the last reviewer commented on, the synergy of the latakia and perique is quite unique.
This is a blast in-your-face complexity that marches to the rumbles of a different drum.
It brings out aspects of perique that oft go unnoticed and it makes for a good, once-in-awhile smoke for me.
Images evoked include membranal walls of gnashing teeth in front of a skeleton band with three fiddlers competing for a dark lord's favor.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
I have never experienced perique and latakia synergizing like this before; like other reviewers have noted here, this was an epiphanic "I just got it" kind of blend, and I have new respect for the power of perique.
Here the perique serves to do more than "zip things up," actually melding and working in concert with the other components, much as I have experienced it doing sucessfully with burley in other blends (though of course there is no burley here).
Armada is unique, powerful, and complex.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| sasha (228) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Among the Ouellette's blends I have smoked this is the one I love the least, I think it's because of the Perique. The taste of this mixture is a little confused, the latakia is overlied by the perique. The result is surely a good tobacco, but it lacks personality.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Armada is blend with a variety of varitiels that despite this variety, is well balanced. The VA stays in the background affording no tartness nor sweetness. The latakia is used as a condement should be, contributing to the aroma and taste in a positive fashion but never dominant or overbearing. The use of the perique is what ties everything together without being applied to heavy as many times happens with blends using this ST. James weed. Over all a complex and pleasent taste with no one varitiel dominating the others. Packs, lights, burns clean and smokes smooth. A tasty treat for seasoned palates.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Deckard Cain (39) | |
Mild | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
I kind of assume that this is hearth and Holmes version of odyssey. I don't know, I don't love it as much as other Latakia blends. First off understand this.
I've gotten old now. I am not an all-day pipe smoker, because I value my tongue. So I usually try to limit it to two bowls a day. However this can change depending on the circumstances. Therefore I place great value on the time I can find to smoke. I'm not saying I don't want to waste my time on cheap tobacco. I'm just saying it's smart to only smoke the ones that you really enjoy. This one I didn't really enjoy. I guess it's just too much latakia. Or else it could be that hearth and home doesn't use the best Latakia. When it comes to wonderful latakia blends I've always stuck closely to GL peace, and dunhill. Armada is certainly a Latakia blend, but I don't find it as tasty as others. For me latakian doesn't need to be found in huge quantities in order to satisfy. I think it's much more important to surround it with other tobacco's that complement it well. This one will definitely sate your Latakia sweet tooth.
But I really don't think it's the best Latakia blend out there. I found black house (also by hearth and home) to be much better. And I think white knight is a wonderful fresh and tasty English blend. This one needs to be mixed with something.
Pipe Used: Cobs
Age When Smoked: 1-2
Purchased From: Pipes and cigars
Similar Blends: Odyssy.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Skibbereen (19) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
This is an interesting blend. This is the second blend I have reviewed from Russ O.'s Hearth & Home selections. The Virginia stays in the background. The Latakia is there but it is not that noticeable either. What really comes out is the Oriental/Turkish and the Perique. In fact, it's just a little to much for my taste. That's not to say it's not a fine blend...because it is. For someone who likes Oriental and Perique, it should be your go to blend. Packing was just fine, but there were quite a few relights. But when all said and done it left a grey ash and no dottle left behind. But for me it is just a tad to strong. However, I'm still inclined to rate it a 4. It is put together very nicely. Even though it's on the strong side it's still a fine tobacco.
Pipe Used: Peterson 1866 remake
Age When Smoked: Fresh
Purchased From: Pipes & Cigars
Similar Blends: Davidoff - Scottish Mixture, Mac Baren - Mixture Scottish Blend.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
600 Perdue Ave
Richmond, VA 23224